What are your thoughts/feelings on stores offering military discounts for dependents?

SPC Paul LaBelle — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 14:01:40 -0500

I recently started working at a grocery store near Scott AFB. I have had people come in and ask for the military discount. The one was a dependent child and the other was a dependent spouse. Do some stores extend military discounts to dependents? When I told the spouse that we didn’t offer military discounts and that if we did it would be for service members and veterans only, she started to lecture me about the role our military plays and continued to lecture me about dependents even after I told her I was a veteran. What are your thoughts/feelings on dependents asking for (or should I say demanding) their spouse/parents benefits?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2020 2:15 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 14:15:05 -0500

It depends on the store. If the store wants to offer a military discount to military dependents, they'll advertise that as such. I don't often see discounts for dependents unless it's on base or near a base.

All you had to do was tell her that your store doesn't offer military discounts and that be the end of it. I wouldn't have even entertained her lecture. If it was me and I said "We don't have military discounts here ma'am." And she went on her Karen rampage, all I would reply is "I'm sorry you feel that way. This store doesn't offer military discounts. Have a good day." And hung up.

I don't think anyone should demand any discounts - whether it's a dependent of a military person, a military person or a veteran. I don't go around demanding discounts. If a store offers military discount, I take out my CAC to get the discount. If it's not advertised, I don't ask. If they ask me if I'm military, I say sure. No one should be demanding a discount for any job they do honestly. If a business wants to give a discount to military, law enforcement, first responders, etc that's their prerogative.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Dec 7 at 2020 2:15 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 14:15:27 -0500

It is honestly store policy. Many stores simply require a military ID. This opens it up to both retirees and active duty, as well as their dependents (and in some cases, DoD / DA / DoN / AFCS civilians). Other stores require active duty, others are for active duty and their dependents (but not retirees and theirs) and still others are active and veterans (some with, some without dependents).

There is no *right* answer. There is only the answer that your store's management / board / owner has decided upon. But, regardless of what the store's answer is, there is definitely a *wrong* answer - and that is to be rude to the customer for asking about or even for insisting on military discounts. Firm? Sure, if necessary. But rude? Never.

Finally, I will say that I am not in the camp of "spouse worship" and "they deserve everything that the service member gets" etc. BUT... spouses (and children) *do* still sacrifice and automatically relegating them to second-tier status (which seems to be what you are implying when you say that the benefit is the spouse's or parent's rather than something that belongs to them in their own right) is, in my opinion, not the best path to go down.

Response by GySgt Kenneth Pepper made Dec 7 at 2020 2:15 PM

GySgt Kenneth Pepper — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 14:15:34 -0500

Ahhh.....the entitled dependapotamus. My favorite creature. Most of them qualify for "Karen" status. If I ever found out my wife or kids asked for a military discount I would lose my mind.
I certainly understand that dependents of military members make sacrifices, but so do a lot of other professions. It does not make them military by extension.
Extending a discount to military and veterans is a perk, not a right. No one should expect it. Especially not someone who is not a veteran or active duty SM.

Response by SGT Shanon Chalfant made Dec 7 at 2020 2:18 PM

SGT Shanon Chalfant — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 14:18:12 -0500

I've never known any store or restaurant to allow a dependant the military/veteran discount offered just by their word, unless they had their own Form 2 to prove otherwise. But it also depends the store or restaurants specific regs on who exactly is entitled to the discount. So my advice would be to get a copy of that reg from your workplace and familiarize yourself with the specifics so that you can be more informative in the future.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Dec 7 at 2020 2:24 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 14:24:15 -0500

Thats pretty classless in my opinon. Companies are not required to provide discounts and it's already nice that these are extended to us as a "thank you" from many retailers. Some stores only give discounts to active military, but not to reserve/guard. Others include retired but some don't. I'm sure there are some that provide discounts to dependents but they don't have to. If they have it, great. If not, pay full price.

Response by SPC Paul LaBelle made Dec 7 at 2020 2:26 PM

SPC Paul LaBelle — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 14:26:11 -0500

For clarification, as the customer service manager, I know store policy, we do not offer military discounts.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Dec 7 at 2020 2:43 PM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 14:43:44 -0500

Pretty classless IMO of the dependapotamus. Stores/businesses don't HAVE to offer a discount to ANYONE (military, police, fire, EMS, etc) but do to show their appreciation. Bovine feces like this is why many are eliminating discounts.

IF a business offers a discount, I appreciate it. If they don't, I quietly go about my day.

Response by Lory Breckler made Dec 7 at 2020 3:33 PM

Lory Breckler — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 15:33:00 -0500

I think that is good especially if the veteran has passed.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Dec 7 at 2020 6:34 PM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 18:34:48 -0500

Personally, I can't stand family members asserting they have claim to any military-directed benefits provided by private industry. No, spouses do not serve. No, the children do not serve. The discounts and such are meant to be a small thank you for the SM or vet themselves.

I would actually rather businesses not offer any military discount, period, than give in to these idiotic dependents who feel they deserve to be honored for doing absolutely nothing.

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Dec 8 at 2020 9:30 AM

MAJ Ronnie Reams — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 09:30:20 -0500

My wife shops mostly and almost all the places she shops just ask for ID card, Big Lots, Lowes, Home Depot, et al. A few, like Food Lion, want the veteran there when they offer a discount. She does not ask for the discount, it is well published and I had to register as military veteran, just shows her ID when checking out or gives phone number that auto applies discount.

Response by MSG Lance Kelly made Dec 8 at 2020 1:42 PM

MSG Lance Kelly — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 13:42:17 -0500

They can ask and if granted great but it should be something a dependent demands, especially through a lecture. As others have already mentioned it is not an entitlement nor should it be thought of that way. Sure, the family has made sacrifices. My children were pulled out of schools they liked to relocate to another school they don't like in order to keep our family together. My wife dealt with most of the moving aspects of packing, unpacking, coordinating closing accounts and establishing new accounts. She has served my units as the Family Readiness Group leader. She contacted families and kept them informed during our deployment. But it was me who signed a contract, I trained for war and was deployed to protect the freedoms of our nation. I am the one businesses are thanking for my sacrifice. They are saying thank you. As a retiree, I still receive discounts as places like Lowe's and Home Depot; Lowe's even has Veteran parking spaces. They are saying thank you for your service. I earned it, not my family. But, as I mentioned above, if they do offer it to my wife or children that is great. I know places that do give my wife the discount. Maybe the businesses don't know the difference in ID cards and accept what is show. Maybe they are just being generous. Either way I believe the discount is for me, the service member; but I won't complain if they offer it to my wife and/or children as well.

Response by CPL Donald McKenna made Dec 8 at 2020 3:32 PM

CPL Donald McKenna — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 15:32:23 -0500

If someone's a dependent, don't they already get a "military discount" by shopping at the PX or Commissary?

Response by Yolanda Jackson made Dec 17 at 2020 9:15 AM

Yolanda Jackson — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 09:15:07 -0500

I'm a military spouse. We have 2 children. Yes, I agree with the perks. "Karen" wow is that where we are now. My husband served/worked hard for this "perk" and so did WE. I think it speaks volume when a company acknowledges us.

Response by CPL Craig Billings made Dec 20 at 2020 8:21 AM

CPL Craig Billings — Sun, 20 Dec 2020 08:21:51 -0500

Being sole provider for my family, it wouldn't be a stretch for a store to offer to extend my discount to my wife, as it's my money she's using anyway.
Having said that, for her to demand it, and further lecture a clerk on the topic after learning that the owner does not offer the discount even to service members? Yeah, she wouldn't be allowed to leave the house for a while. At least until she learned how to act in public.

Response by Janet Sauer made Dec 24 at 2020 9:32 AM

Janet Sauer — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 09:32:49 -0500

I can copy and paste my reply as a dependent from the Sgt that referred to us as a "Karen" if you could check there it would be helpful. However I NEVER LECTURE NOR DO THE KIDS... we do all carry IDS so that helps.

Response by SFC Louis Willhauck, MSM, JSCM, and ARCOM made Jan 3 at 2021 9:33 AM

SFC Louis Willhauck, MSM, JSCM, and ARCOM — Sun, 03 Jan 2021 09:33:32 -0500

My approach (and my wife's too) is we can ask... if the answer is yes - good... if the answer is no - then that is good also. And if someone feels that is such a big deal (after all it is usually about 10% only) then I suggest that someone simply shop places that do and not shop places that don't. I don't know why this subject keeps coming up as such a big deal when there are many things going on that will impact people much greater than a 10% discount and seem to be ignored in the larger scope of things.

Response by Col Tri Trinh made Jan 5 at 2021 1:40 PM

Col Tri Trinh — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 13:40:27 -0500

It’s up to the business to give discounts or not to anyone. It’s not an entitlement.
Usually, stores will give discounts to the spouse of a military member.
One time I was at Lowe’s and gave them my phone number to get the veteran discount. The gal asked me for my ID to prove I was a veteran and not a dependent.

Response by SPC Laura Mitchell made Jan 31 at 2021 5:09 AM

SPC Laura Mitchell — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 05:09:08 -0500

It’s up to them. It’s a usually strictly a business decision: a discount now brings more business later. I have a Veteran’s ID card but I need to the name changed (it has the name on my DD 214 which isn’t my current name). To be honest, I tend to not ask is they have a military discount. Although I’m getting to where I might be more vocal about my senior citizen discount. Maybe. I’m still trying to embrace my gray...

Response by SSG Sidney Galloway made Jul 5 at 2021 4:22 PM

SSG Sidney Galloway — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 16:22:22 -0400

"Military Discount." My wife would never ask. She won't use my parking placard either. Asking for (and appreciating) the discounts is one thing. Demanding? That answer would be "No."